Hamas: Bush visits ME to divide Palestinians

 

Gaza-based Palestinian government declared that a planned visit by US President George W. Bush to the Middle East is aimed to provide spiritual and political support to Zionist regime and exacerbate the rifts among rival Palestinian factions.

 

In a statement released Saturday, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said the visit will be no more than a farewell celebration for Bush, who will come to take some memorial pictures, before he leaves office in 2009.

 

"That was evident during the Annapolis meeting and its consequences, which were more Israeli killing of the Palestinians and more settlement construction," Abu Zuhri told the Gaza-based Palestine newspaper.

 

Abu Zuhri said Bush will only reaffirm support for Zionist regime and for the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA against Hamas.

 

He said support for the PA is part of an attempt to contain worldwide anger among Arabs and Muslims over escalating Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the occupied territories following the Annapolis meeting in November.